By YIP YOKE TENG teng@thestar.com.my
Bandar Mahkota Cheras Free Access Road Committee and residents had the chance to meet Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on Wednesday after 10 weeks of peaceful demonstration to protest against the closure of the housing estate’s toll-free access road.
However, they were “very disappointed” with the minister's answer. Only two persons from the group were allowed to meet Samy Vellu in the half-hour meeting.
Committee chairman Tan Boon Wah told the 33-strong group that the minister said it was not wrong for Cheras-Kajang Highway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd to block the access road with concrete barriers because the road itself was illegal in the first place.
“I asked Datuk Seri what right does Grand Saga have to block the road and he said: ‘No one's blocking it. The road is illegal; it hasn't obtained approval from JKR (Public Works Department)’,” he told the obviously upset crowd in front of JKR headquarters.
Tan said the committee would pursue the matter further by consulting lawyers and those who faced a similar situation.
A resident, salesman Low Min Tuck, 43, commented that the developer and the government departments involved in this issue were dodging their responsibility.
“They keep passing us to another department. We are only residents, we won’t know which department handles what, but shouldn’t there be co-ordination among them?” he asked.
“This department says it’s illegal while another says it’s legal. They can say whatever they want, but residents are the victims ultimately,” he added.
He said all members in the group had applied leave from work to attend the meeting.
They gathered at Bandar Mahkota Cheras at 11am and arrived at the JKR headquarters at 12.30pm only to find out that the 1pm appointment was postponed to 2pm.
Chartered accountant Albert Loh, 40, asked: “If today our Works Minister said the road is illegal, why can’t our Government help us by taking action against the developer?”
Phua Chee Kian, artiste, 48, said the residents were an innocent lot but they were caught in between the developer, concessionaire and government departments.
“We were promised the access road when we bought the properties here. We have the right to use it. It's for everyone's convenience. Do the relevant parties want to wait until tragedy happens to act?” he said.
In cases of emergency, he said, an ambulance or fire engine would have to travel an extra 6.5km through the congested Bandar Sungai Long access road.
